During the European Sustainable Energy Week 2024, I had the honor of moderating the session “Acting locally for a fair and inclusive European Green Deal.”
Our focus? How local initiatives can drive the green transition and ensure no community is left behind.
Once again, the European Sustainable Energy Week 2024 shows that local governments’ power to steer the energy transition is unwavering.
But they face challenges, and need inspiration.
🗣️ That’s exactly what our top-notch panelists focused on:
- Nives Della Valle, Ph.D. European Commission’s Joint Research Centre
- Max Joel New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
- Mireia Matencio , City of Besançon
- Pau Pañella Vilamú , Local Energy Agency of Osona
- Johannes Vollmer , European Renewable Energies Federation
- Petya Pishmisheva , Climate Alliance and Covenant of Mayors – Europe Office
Their experiences were truly inspiring.
Speaking about New York’s groundbreaking Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), Max Joel demonstrated that “If we can make it there, we can make it anywhere.”
This law sets the bar high, aiming for 100% zero-emission electricity by 2040 and directing 40% of climate funding to disadvantaged communities. A benchmark!
Key takeaways included:
• The SLIME program in France, which enables people to “rebuild their lives as they repair their homes”
• The Energy Community Support Program in Osona, which is a model for effective public administration support for energy communities.
🌍 “Local and regional actors will have a crucial role to play in managing the transition on the ground,” and our goal is to empower them with the knowledge, tools and narrative they need.
For further takes on the European Sustainable Energy Week, check the podcast episode “The Dog Who Caught the Bus”.
